THE HORSE. 303 



which had, to a certain degree, supervened, inducing 

 a somewhat milder tone of national sentiment, Mr. 

 Martin succeeded in obtaining the enactment of a 

 law, which invested animals with rights under the 

 social contract. He enjoys the honour with his 

 contemporary philanthropists (for the love of human 

 and brute nature is a congenial sentiment,) and will 

 stand recorded to the latest posterity, as having 

 arduously laboured for, and first succeeded in that 

 extraordinary change in our legislation ; but the bill, 

 as might be expected on such a subject, and in the 

 face of so much opposition, was necessarily imperfect ; 

 however, still great and important the advantage 

 obtained, a considerable number of animals were 

 placed under legal protection, whilst others, having 

 equal claims from their feelings, and even greater 

 liability to abuse, were entirely and indefensibly ex- 

 cluded from the pale of mercy. Mr. Martin previ- 

 ously 10 his second attempt, did me the honour to 

 call on, and consult me, and my unreserved opinion 

 was, that nothing further could be required of the 

 legislature with reason or effect, than a general pro- 

 tection for animals, and the absolute prohibition and 

 putting down of all baiting and torture, whether of 

 bulls, badgers, bears, or any other beasts. But con- 

 trary to my expectations, the enthusiasm of this 

 philanthropist got the better of him, and he became 

 disposed to expect much more than the legislature 

 could, scarcely even with possibility, grant. 



The clergy of the church of England have exerted 

 themselves most particularly and most meritoriously 

 in this sacred cause. A great number of tracts have 



